L.v. Labor Leaders Blast Laneco

April 10, 1985|by TIM DARRAGH, The Morning Call

Lehigh Valley labor leaders representing thousands of workers rallied yesterday to support employees striking several local companies - and to attack "despicable" tactics of one of those employers, Laneco.

Yesterday's meeting at the United Steelworkers' Van Bittner Hall in Bethlehem was designed to call attention to the strikes at Laneco stores, MCP Facilities Corp. in Upper Nazareth Township, and Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. in Phillipsburg.

But Laneco, which is being struck by about 1,200 workers of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1357, clearly was the main whipping boy.

Wendell Young, president of Local 1357, charged that Laneco is trying to make its stores "McDonald's-type operations where you get federal minimum wage and no benefits."

He called Laneco's strategies "despicable," but claimed they are not working, saying that 70-80 percent of Laneco's customers are not shopping in the stores. Fewer than 100 members of Local 1357 have crossed the picket lines, according to Young.

The key to the success of the strike, Young added, is persuading shoppers to continue avoiding Laneco stores.

Young said he was particularly upset about recent Laneco newspaper advertisements announcing the company is hiring permanent strike replacements. The advertisements began appearing in newspapers almost immediately after the strike commenced.

He urged all union members to call Laneco stores to "cry out against these ads."

Laneco workers, Young said, were willing to accept another three-year contract with no pay increases before the last three-year pact expired.

But Laneco wants to "dismantle" employee benefit programs, he said, while "it's not losing money."

Young also said the average rate of pay for Laneco employees is $8 per hour, and "he (Laneco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Raymond Bartolacci) can't stand paying that."

Young also attacked Laneco's alleged refusal to abide by an "accretion" clause that allows employees in new stores to work under the union's collective bargaining agreement. However, Laneco opened three stores during the past contract period and did not honor the clause, he claimed.

Gail E. Meyer, president of the Northampton County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, pledged to "do anything and everything to help . . . union members."

The labor council, she said, has sent out a special "action alert" to all delegates calling for support. In addition, the council's community service committee met Monday with representatives of the striking unions to discuss "basic needs of food, clothing, credit and (how) to deal with any individual hardships."

Meyer also called on union sympathizers to sign petitions supporting the strikers' position and to pledge not to shop at Laneco stores until a settlement is reached.

Frances E. Polgar, executive vice president of the Lehigh County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, also went on the attack against Laneco, saying, "To have the company hire scabs to break a bona fide labor dispute isin fact showing Laneco's . . . insensitivity."

And Austin Trimmer, vice president of the Warren-Hunterdon Central Labor Council, voiced strong support for the strikers.

Two union locals gave cash contributions to Local 1357's strike fund. United Auto Workers Local 677, represented by Harry Messinger, contributed $2,000, and Mike Brennan of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union presented a check for $250.

The strikers also received moral support from State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-136th District. Freeman's legislative consultant, Joe Welsh, offered the representative's support and said the strikers are fighting to "preserve the American dream."

He also noted that Freeman once was a member of Local 1357.

In addition, Meyer said Karl Kercher, an assistant to Allentown Mayor Joseph Daddona, attended the meeting. And Easton City Councilman Pat Vulcano, a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, sent a letter in support of the unions, Meyer said.

Representatives from a number of other unions also pledged solidarity, including the Independent Printers and Bindery Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Cement, Lime, Gypsum and Allied Workers.

Allentown police yesterday reported a complaint that strikers at the Lehigh Street store used a bullhorn to curse motorist who crossed their picket line at the Downyflake Road entrance. Police notified the county sheriff's department which then spoke to the strikers, police said.